01 Aug 2024
by Sarah Holloway

Conservator

Where do you put, and how do you look after, 4 million objects?! Find out on a behind the scenes tour of Dorset’s Collections Discovery Centre. Explore the store to get closer to a vast array of items, from fossils and fish to gold coins and signed books. Then check out the conservation studio to meet the team that care for them. (Image: Dorset Museum & Art Gallery)

Collections Store Tour (Dorset)

Archaeologist

Something’s gleaming down on the sand… it’s not the water, or a shiny pebble; it’s the high vis jackets and metal tools of the archaeology team! You don’t have to go underwater to explore this shipwreck. Whether you have 10 minutes or three hours, hit the beach and get stuck in with the team to record the remains of a wooden boat on Gosport’s shore. (Image: Nautical Archaeological Society)

Shipwreck Archaeology (Hampshire)

Botanist

Discover the amazing variety of life to be found in a cemetery. From Japanese knotweed to cheeky chiffchaffs, your expert guide will also talk you through the global connections to be found locally. (Image: Liam Rimmington)

Habitats Tour (South Yorkshire)

Costume Designer

A workshop with a costume designer for the panto? Oh no you don’t?! Oh yes we do! Head up to Crewe Lyceum Theatre for a session that’s sure to be full of sparkle. Delve into the archives to explore costumes from past pantos and design your own outfit for a character from Beauty and the Beast. (Image: Wes Webster Photography)

Panto Costumes (Cheshire)

Engineer

Even icons need a bit of TLC, they just require a bit more expertise than most! Explore the history of Clifton Suspension Bridge’s maintenance over the years and meet the team who are currently ‘walking the chains’ (eek - head for heights is a must!) to ensure this beautiful and vital piece of engineering lasts another 180 years. (Image: Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust)

Bridge Engineers (Bristol)

Gardener

Not only a rare opportunity to visit this secret woodland garden, but also a chance to meet the team caring for it. See some of the original specimens brought back from the 1920s plant expeditions. Learn how to gather seed, prick out, and pot on, before taking a break for tea and maybe being tempted to take some new green things home! (Image: Furzey Gardens)

Plant Nursery (Hampshire)

Medical Researcher

It might be time to don a white coat and peer down a microscope for this one! Talk to the scientists and NHS clinical researchers about the food and teeny tiny microbes that make a big impact on our health. (Image: Quadram Institute)

Hidden World of Health (Norfolk)

3 in 1

Three experts, one event! Really get under the skin of Northumberland’s stunning landscape on this walk. A trio of experts will help you understand the plants you see, the geology beneath and the industrial history that has both been drawn to and helped shape it all. (Image: Jimmy Keen)

Explore Cocklawburn (Northumberland)

Sculptor

Ever looked at the details carved on churches, or the statues in public places and wondered, how did they do that? Can I have a go? Well, now’s your chance! Head to Leeds Corn Exchange to meet artists from The Sculpture Gallery. Watch them work, ask them questions, and maybe even pick up a chisel and carve some stone yourself! (Image: Mandy Long)

Stone Carving (West Yorkshire)

Wheelwright + Blacksmith

Feel the heat, hear the ring of metal, or be soothed by the turning wooden wheel – a trip to Chedham’s Yard is sure to ignite your curiosity! Explore the craftsmanship of a local farming community and meet the expert volunteers in the blacksmith and wheelwright workshops. (Image: Chedham's Yard)

Craft Skills (Warwickshire)

PLEASE NOTE - These events were accurate at the time of publication but details are subject to change. Check the individual entries for more - including any booking details needed.


Find out more